Julius Debrah challenges African graduates to turn knowledge into enterprises

Chief of Staff, Dr. Julius Debrah, has urged African graduates to move beyond seeking employment and use their knowledge, creativity and skills to establish enterprises and create opportunities for others.

He said obtaining a university certificate should mark the beginning of a graduate’s contribution to economic development rather than the end of their academic journey.

Dr. Debrah made the call on Monday, October 12, 2026, when he represented President John Dramani Mahama at the maiden convocation of the University of Offa in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Addressing the graduating class of 2026, the Chief of Staff said Africa needed graduates who could identify problems, develop solutions and respond creatively to changing economic conditions.

“My first message to the graduating class is therefore simple: your certificate is a foundation; it is not a finish line,” he said.

Speaking on the theme, “From Certificate to Enterprise: Africa’s Graduates as Architects of the Continent’s Economic Future,” Dr. Debrah said the traditional expectation that graduates should obtain certificates and find jobs needed to be complemented by an entrepreneurial mindset.

“Previous generations of graduates were often told: study hard, obtain your certificate and find a good job. That remains a legitimate ambition. But the world you are graduating into demands something more,” he said.

He explained that enterprise should not be understood only as the establishment of private businesses but also as a mindset that encourages initiative, innovation, problem-solving and resilience.

“Enterprise is not limited to starting a company. It is a mindset of initiative, creativity, problem-solving and resilience,” he said.

Dr. Debrah noted that graduates could apply this mindset whether they chose careers in the private sector, public service, academia or professional practice.

He also pointed to the growing influence of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, climate change and changing global trade patterns, arguing that Africa must play an active role in shaping these developments.

“Africa must not simply respond to these changes. We must participate in shaping them,” he said.

The Chief of Staff acknowledged that governments had a responsibility to create conditions for businesses to flourish through quality education, reliable infrastructure, access to finance, predictable regulation and decent employment opportunities.

However, he stressed that young people also had a responsibility to contribute their ideas, energy and creativity to national development.

The address comes amid broader discussions across Africa about graduate unemployment, entrepreneurship and the need to align higher education with the continent’s economic needs.

Dr. Debrah urged the University of Offa to make enterprise, research and innovation integral to its identity as it develops beyond its first graduating class.